What Is A Learning Community?
A Learning Community is an innovative academic reform initiative that supports intentional restructuring of students time, credit, and learning experiences to build community, enhance learning, and foster connections among students, faculty, and disciplines. National research from 63 studies Nationwide indicate that students do better in college, graduate and have more fun in their courses when they take learning community courses and learn in a cooperative family oriented academic environment. Student cohorts and instructors to become an Ohana or family that is interactive; supportive and focused solely on student persistence and success.
Learning Communities are different from regular courses because the students in them get to know each other a lot better than in most regular courses. Two or more courses are linked together to embrace students cultural values, innate learning styles, and needs. LCs are taught differently from regular courses with more interaction between students and between students and teachers. Students get to know their classmates and teachers much better than in most regular courses because they stay together in classes for 2 periods instead of 1, but still get 6 credits. Students can possibly complete enough learning communities and graduate together.
Students and instructors work closely together to foster deeper understanding of course material, and create an enhanced learning environment that is more academically and socially engaging as well as links classroom experiences, service learning to fun and rewarding activities on and off campus.
Innovative, committed faculty teaching learning communities really care about students, their individual needs, and success. These instructors have spent a lot of time together redesigning the courses to fit together, often using a new ideas or themes that help each teacher to see their own course in new and exciting ways.